Copyright Statement

Abstract

Understanding community’s resilience to the consequences
of infrequent, large events is only possible in the context of
the experience of a significant event. Learning what makes
communities resilient in real life situations provides us with
the evidence-based knowledge needed to develop effective
policy and practice and to adequately support communities
affected by emergencies.
The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency
Management partnered with Massey University, the
University of Tasmania and a Christchurch based social
research group Opinions Market Research to conduct
an inquiry into community resilience following the 22
February 2011 earthquake. Through exploratory workshops
and interviews with residents of the eastern suburbs of
Sumner, Redcliffs, Southshore, Aranui and Bexley, as well
as those living in the central Christchurch City, stories of
resilience were recorded. This article summarises community
experiences as told by community members themselves. It is
hoped that their stories of resilience will inform policy and
practice and lead to meaningful integration of community
action into emergency response, as the cornerstone of
community resilience in disasters.